In`vo*lu"tion (?), n. [L.
involutio: cf. F. involution. See Involve.]
1. The act of involving or
infolding.
2. The state of being entangled or involved;
complication; entanglement.
All things are mixed, and causes blended, by mutual
involutions.
Glanvill.
3. That in which anything is involved,
folded, or wrapped; envelope. Sir T. Browne.
4. (Gram.) The insertion of one or
more clauses between the subject and the verb, in a way that involves
or complicates the construction.
5. (Math.) The act or process of
raising a quantity to any power assigned; the multiplication of a
quantity into itself a given number of times; -- the reverse of
evolution.
6. (Geom.) The relation which exists
between three or more sets of points, a.a′,
b.b′, c.c′, so related to a point O on the
line, that the product Oa.Oa′ = Ob.Ob′ =
Oc.Oc′ is constant. Sets of lines or surfaces possessing
corresponding properties may be in involution.
7. (Med.) The return of an enlarged
part or organ to its normal size, as of the uterus after
pregnancy.
